Vehicle sunroof device

ABSTRACT

A vehicle sunroof device includes a movable panel, guide rails, rear slide members, an electrical drive source, and check mechanisms. When the rear slide members are moved toward the front of the vehicle along the guide rails when the movable panel is in a totally closed state, the movable panel is changed to a tilt-up state. Check release mechanisms provided to the rear slide members are changed to an engaged state when the rear slide members are further moved toward the front of the vehicle with the movable panel in the tilt-up state and without involving operation of the movable panel. In the engaged state, when the rear slide members are moved toward the rear of the vehicle afterward, the check release mechanisms move the entire check mechanisms while switching the check mechanisms to a movable state. In the engaged state of the check release mechanisms, when the rear slide members are further moved toward the front of the vehicle without involving operation of the movable panel, the check release mechanisms are switched to an engagement released state in which the check release mechanisms are released from the check mechanisms

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a vehicle sunroof device.

In the prior art, a so-called outer slide sunroof device, such as thatdescribed in patent document 1, is known as a vehicle sunroof device. Inthis device, when shoes arranged at the front and rear of the vehicleare moved toward the rear in a fully closed state, the distal end of alifting link, which is pivotally linked to a guide rail, is lifted. Thisshifts a movable panel to a tilt-up state. In the tilt-up state, whenthe shoes are moved further toward the rear, the movable panel movesrearward. This shifts the movable panel to a fully open state in thetilt-up state.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT Patent Document

-   Patent Document 1) Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No.    2005-153803

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problems that are to be Solved by the Invention

In the vehicle sunroof device of patent document 1, the movement amount(operational stroke) of the shoes required for the movable panel toshift from the fully open state to the fully closed state is themovement amount from a position corresponding to the fully closed stateto a position corresponding to the fully open state via a positioncorresponding to the tilt-up state. Thus, an increase in the movement ofthe shoes from when the movable panel shifts from the fully closed stateto the tilt-up state (hereinafter referred to as the “tilt operationalstroke”) decreases the movement amount of the shoes, that is, the openamount of the movable panel, when the movable panel shifts from thetilt-up state to the fully closed state.

The tilt operational stroke corresponds to a range in which the movablepanel is lifted and lowered in a high load state. Thus, a longer tiltoperational stroke is preferable. If the tilt operational strokedecreases, the load per unit operational stroke increases. This enlargesthe electric drive source (motor or the like) that drives the shoes.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle sunroofdevice that increases the open amount of the movable panel withoutenlarging the electric drive source.

Means for Solving the Problem

To achieve the above object, one aspect of the present inventionprovides a vehicle sunroof device including a movable panel, a guiderail, a rear slide member, an electric drove source, and a checkmechanism. The movable panel opens and closes an opening formed in aroof of a vehicle. The guide rail is arranged on two edges of theopening in a widthwise direction of the vehicle, wherein the guide railextends in front and rear directions of the vehicle. The rear slidemember is linked to two edges at a rear portion of the movable panel inthe widthwise direction and arranged to be movable along the guide railin the front and rear directions of the vehicle. The electric drivesource moves the rear slide member. The check mechanism is hooked to twoedges at a front portion of the movable panel in a swingable manner. Thecheck mechanism is selectively switched between an immovable state, inwhich the check mechanism is held at a predetermined position frontwardfrom the rear slide member in the front and rear directions of thevehicle, and a movable state, in which the check mechanism is allowed tomove toward the rear of the vehicle from the predetermined position.When the movable panel is in a fully closed state, the rear slide membermoves along the guide rail toward the front of the vehicle to lift themovable panel at its rear side about the front portion hooked to thecheck mechanism in the immovable state and thereby shift the movablepanel to a tilt-up state. The sunroof device includes a checkcancellation mechanism arranged on the rear slide member. The checkcancellation mechanism, in the tilt-up state, is switched to an engagedstate as the slide member further moves toward the front of the vehiclewithout moving the movable panel, and the check cancellation mechanism,in the engaged state, integrally moves the check mechanism as subsequentmovement of the rear slide member toward the rear of the vehicleswitches the check mechanism to the movable state. The rear slide memberfurther moves toward the front of the vehicle without moving the movablepanel in the engaged state, the check cancellation mechanism is switchedto a disengaged state and released from the check mechanism.

In this structure, in the engaged state of the check cancellationmechanism, when the rear slide member moves toward the rear of thevehicle, the check mechanism is switched to the movable state and movedintegrally with the check cancellation mechanism toward the rear of thevehicle. Accordingly, the movable panel, which is hooked to the checkmechanism, opens in the tilt-up state. In this case, the maximummovement amount of the rear slide member or the like that determines thefully open state of the movable panel is not restricted by the movementamount of the rear slide member in the reverse direction when themovable panel is shifted to the tilt-up state. It is only required thatthe movement amount be ensured so that it does not move the movablepanel, which allows switching of the check cancellation mechanism to theengaged state or the disengaged state. Thus, the maximum movement amountof the rear slide member or the like that determines the fully openstate of the movable panel, that is, the open amount of the movablepanel, can be increased accordingly.

When the check cancellation mechanism is in the engaged state, furthermovement of the rear slide member toward the front of the vehicleswitches the check cancellation mechanism to the disengaged state.Accordingly, in this state, when the rear slide member moves toward therear of the vehicle, after the period in which the movable panel doesnot move, the rear side of the movable panel linked to the rear slidemember is lowered about the front side of the movable panel hooked tothe check mechanism in the immovable state and the movable panel isshifted to the fully closed state (recovered).

Further, when the movable panel is shifted from the fully closed stateto the tilt-up state (or vice-versa), a sufficient movement amount isensured for the rear slide member. This decreases the load per unitmovement amount on the rear slide member and consequently avoidsenlargement of the electric drive source.

In the present invention, the hooking of the check mechanism to the twoedges at the front portion of the movable panel in a swingable mannerincludes, in addition to hooking that allows pivoting of the movablepanel about the hooking position, hooking that allows pivoting of themovable panel about an axis or hypothetical center set in anothermember.

Preferably, the check cancellation mechanism includes a projection. Thesunroof device further includes a first channel, a second channel, andan urging member. The first channel allows entrance of the guideprojection in the immovable state of the check mechanism when the checkcancellation mechanism switches to the engaged state as the rear slidemember moves toward the front of the vehicle. The second channel is incommunication with a front end of the first channel and switches thecheck cancellation mechanism to the disengaged state when the guideprojection enters. The urging member urges and moves the guideprojection from the first channel to the second channel in acommunication portion of the first channel and the second channel.

Preferably, the check mechanism includes the first channel, the secondchannel, and the urging member.

In this structure, the switching of the check cancellation mechanismfrom the engaged state to the disengaged state may be performed with anextremely simple function that causes the guide projection to move into(enter) the second channel from the first channel. Further, by aidingthe movement of the guide projection from the first channel to thesecond channel with the plate spring, the switching of the checkcancellation mechanism from the engaged state to the disengaged sate isfurther ensured.

Preferably, the check mechanism includes an engagement groove. The checkcancellation mechanism includes an engagement projection. The engagementprojection passes the engagement groove of the check mechanism in theimmovable state as the rear slide member moves toward the front of thevehicle. The engagement projection is fitted to the engagement groove bysubsequent movement of the rear slide member toward the rear of thevehicle and presses the engagement groove to integrally move the checkmechanism.

In this structure, when the check mechanism is in the immovable state,the rear slide member moves toward the front of the vehicle and theengagement projection passes by the engagement groove. Then, movement ofthe rear slide member toward the rear of the vehicle results in theengagement projection being fitted to the engagement groove and pushingthe engagement groove. This integrally moves the check cancellationmechanism toward the rear of the vehicle. In this manner, when the checkmechanism moves integrally with the check cancellation mechanism towardthe rear of the vehicle, the engagement projection fitted to theengagement groove integrally moves the check mechanism and the checkcancellation mechanism toward the rear of the vehicle in a furtherstable state.

Preferably, the check mechanism includes a check block and a checklever. The check block is hooked to the movable panel and arranged to bemovable along the guide rail in the front and rear directions of thevehicle. The check lever includes the engagement groove and is pivotallycoupled to the check block. The check lever is urged toward and hookedto a hooking portion formed in the guide rail at the predeterminedposition to maintain the immovable state.

In this structure, the check mechanism implements the function forhooking the movable panel (i.e., restricting the position of the movablepanel in the front and rear directions of the vehicle) and the functionfor switching between the immovable state and the movable state usingtwo components (check block and check lever). This further ensures theoperation of each function.

Preferably, the check mechanism includes an engagement projectionrestriction lever. The engagement projection restriction lever ispivotally coupled to the check lever, and the engagement projectionrestriction lever is held at a predetermined initial position engagingthe guide rail when receiving urging force. The engagement projectionpivots the engagement projection restriction lever against the urgingforce and passes the engagement groove as the rear slide member movestoward the front of the vehicle. Subsequent movement of the rear slidemember toward the rear of the vehicle pushes, with the engagementprojection restriction lever, the guide rail, which is engaged with theengagement projection restriction lever, and releases the check leverfrom the hooking portion.

In this structure, the engagement projection passes by the engagementgroove, and the rear slide member then moves toward the rear of thevehicle. This pushes the guide rail, which is engaged with theengagement projection restriction lever, with the engagement projectionrestriction lever and releases the engagement projection restrictionlever from the cutout. In this manner, the pressing force of theengagement projection from the engagement projection restriction leveris relayed to the guide rail. This further ensures switching from theimmovable state to the movable state.

Preferably, the sunroof device includes a position detector and acontrol unit. The position detector detects the position of the rearslide member in the front and rear directions of the vehicle. Thecontrol unit controls and drives the electric drive source based on theposition of the rear slide member in the front and rear directions ofthe vehicle. The control unit prohibits deactivation of the electricdrive source when the check cancellation mechanism is in a rangeswitched from the engaged state to the disengaged state and the rearslide member moves in a range in the front and rear directions of thevehicle without moving the movable panel.

In this structure, when the rear slide member moves in a range in thefront and rear directions of the vehicle in which the check cancellationmechanism switches from the engaged state to the disengaged statewithout moving the movable panel, the control unit prohibitsdeactivation of the electric drive source. Accordingly, the rear slidemember stops in the range in the front and rear directions of thevehicle from the rear slide member shared by the engaged state and thedisengaged state of the check cancellation mechanism, and avoids asituation in which it cannot be determined whether the checkcancellation mechanism is in the engaged state or disengaged state.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view showing one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2( a) is a bottom view showing the embodiment, and FIG. 2( b) is across-sectional view taken along line 2B-2B in FIG. 2( a);

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the operation of the embodiment;

FIG. 4( a) is a bottom view showing the operation of the embodiment, andFIGS. 4( b) and 4(c) are cross-sectional views taken along line 4B-4Band 4C-4C;

FIGS. 5( a) and 5(b) are bottom views showing the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a side view showing the operation of the embodiment; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view schematically showing the embodiment.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the present invention will now be described withreference to the drawings.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a sunroof device 11 taken from adiagonally upward direction. The sunroof device 11 is mounted on a roof10 of a vehicle such as an automobile. As shown in the drawing, the roof10 includes a roof opening 10 a. A movable panel 12, which opens andcloses the roof opening 10 a, is arranged in the roof opening 10 a. Themovable panel 12 is coupled to the roof 10 so that it can be tiltedupward and be slidable in the front and rear directions of the vehicle.The movable panel 12 is of a so-called outer slide type and slides in atilt-up state when performing an opening and closing operation.

The structure related to the opening and closing of the movable panel 12will now be described. The sunroof device 11 includes two structuresrelated to the opening and closing of the movable panel 12 and arrangedon opposite widthwise sides of the vehicle. The description hereafterwill basically refer to the structure at one side in the widthwisedirection of the vehicle.

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway side view of the sunroof device 11. FIG.2( a) is a partially cutaway bottom view showing the sunroof device 11at the front portion of the vehicle, and FIG. 2( b) is a cross-sectionalview taken along line 2B-2B. FIG. 2( b) is a cross-sectional view takenalong line 2B-2B, and the widthwise direction in FIG. 2( a) is shown incorrespondence with FIG. 2( b) to facilitate understanding.

As shown in FIG. 1, the sunroof device 11 includes guide rails 13 thatare arranged at the two edges of the roof opening 10 a in the widthwisedirection of the vehicle and extend in the front and rear directions ofthe vehicle. Referring to FIG. 2( b), the guide rail 13, which isformed, for example, from an extruded material of aluminum alloy and hasa generally C-shaped cross-section, integrally includes a bottom wall 13a, two side walls 13 b extending upward from the two ends in thewidthwise direction of the bottom wall 13 a, and flanges 13 c and 13 dextending toward each other from the top ends of the side walls 13 b.

As shown in FIG. 1, a rear shoe 16 is coupled to the guide rail 13 as arear slide member in a state fitted with play to the inner wall of theguide rail 13 to be movable in the front and rear directions of thevehicle. The rear shoe 16 includes a generally triangular support piece16 a, which projects upward from the guide rail 13 through the gapbetween the two flanges 13 c and 13 d, and a guide pin 16 b, which isfixed to the top portion of the support piece 16 a and extends towardone widthwise direction of the vehicle (downward in a directionorthogonal to the plane of FIG. 1). Further, a front shoe 17, which ismovable in the front and rear directions of the vehicle, is coupled tothe guide rail 13 in a state fitted with play to the inner wall of theguide rail 13 at the front side of the rear shoe 16. The front shoe 17includes a generally triangular support piece 17 a, which projectsupward from the guide rail 13 through the gap between the two flanges 13c and 13 d, and a support shaft 17 b, which is fixed to the top portionof the support piece 17 a.

A bracket 18, which extends in the front and rear directions of thevehicle, is fixed to the lower surface at the an edge of the movablepanel 12 in the widthwise direction. A guide groove 19 is formed in therear side of the bracket 18 extending in the front and rear directionsof the vehicle. The guide groove 19 includes an inclined portion 19 a,which extends downward toward the front, and a straight portion 19 b,which extends continuously from the front end of the inclined portion 19a and generally parallel to the guide rail 13. The guide pin 16 b ismovably fitted into the guide groove 19. The front end of the bracket 18is pivotally coupled by the support shaft 17 b to the support piece 17a.

When the movable panel 12 is in a fully closed state, the guide pin 16 bis arranged at the rear end of the inclined portion 19 a that is thehighest part of the guide groove 19. Accordingly, from this state, asthe rear shoe 16 moves toward the front of the vehicle and the guide pin16 b moves along the inclined portion 19 a to its front end, the bracket18 (movable panel 12) pivots about the support shaft 17 b therebylifting its rear side (refer to FIG. 3). In this state, the straightportion 19 b of the guide groove 19 is set to extend parallel to theguide rail 13. Thus, in the tilt-up state, as the rear shoe 16 moves inthe front and rear directions of the vehicle, the movable panel 12 doesnot move even though the guide pin 16 b moves along the straight portion19 b.

As shown in FIG. 1, a check mechanism 20 is arranged in the guide rail13 at the rear side of the front shoe 17. The check mechanism 20includes a check block 21, a check lever 22, and an engagementprojection restriction lever 23.

The check block 21 is L-shaped when viewed from aside and integrallyincludes a main body 26, which extends in the front and rear directionsof the vehicle, and a hooking projection 27, which is bent upward fromthe front end of the main body 26 and hooked to a hooking pin 18 a,which is fixed to the bracket 18 and movable in the upward and downwarddirections. Thus, when the movable panel 12 pivots about the supportshaft 17 b, the check block 21 allows the movable panel 12 to swingtoward the front about the hooking pin 18 a in the hooking projection27. As shown in FIG. 2, the main body 26 includes a guide 26 a, which isfitted, over its entire length in the longitudinal direction, to theflange 13 d of the guide rail 13 to be movable in the front and reardirections of the vehicle, and a guide 26 b, which is fitted at thefront end of the of the guide rail 13 to the other flange 13 c to bemovable in the front and rear directions of the vehicle. In this manner,the check block 21 is coupled by the guides 26 a and 26 b to be movablein the front and rear directions of the vehicle along the guide rail 13(flanges 13 c and 13 d). Accordingly, movement of the check block 21moves the movable panel 12, which is hooked to the check block 21(hooking projection 27), together with the front shoe 17 and the like inthe front and rear directions of the vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 4, the main body 26 further includes a guide piece 26c, which has a generally L-shaped cross section and projects upward froman upper surface of the guide 26 a at a basal side of the flange 13 d.The guide piece 26 c includes an inner wall surface that forms a firstchannel 28, which has a generally U-shaped cross-section and openstoward the flange 13 c, with the upper surface of the guide 26 a. Asshown in FIG. 1, the guide piece 26 c (first channel 28) extends in thefront and rear directions of the vehicle toward the rear of the vehiclefrom the hooking projection 27 and has a front portion that is openupward through a communication portion OP. The guide piece 26 c has anupper surface that forms a second channel 29, which extends in the frontand rear directions of the vehicle, in a state overlapped with the upperside of the first channel 28. A plate spring 30, which serves as anurging member, is cantilever-supported by and coupled to the guide 26 aadjacent to the first channel 28 and the like in the widthwisedirection. The plate spring 30 has a free end serving as a distalportion that extends toward the front of the vehicle and is arranged ata height that generally conforms to the upper surface of the guide piece26 c at the communication portion OP.

As shown in FIG. 2( a), the guide 26 b includes a basal portion to whichthe check lever 22 is pivotally coupled by a support shaft 22 a. Thecheck lever 22 includes a generally ax-shaped check portion 22 b, whichprojects from the bottom end of the support shaft 22 a (in a downwarddirection perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 2( a)) to the positioncorresponding to the height of the flange 13 c. A cutout 13 e, which isformed in the flange 13 c at a predetermined position, serves as agenerally tetragonal hooking portion to which a generally tetragonalhead of the check portion 22 b can be fitted as the check lever 22pivots about the support shaft 22 a. Accordingly, by fitting the checkportion 22 b into the cutout 13 e, the main body 26 (check block 21) isswitched to an immovable state in the front and rear directions of thevehicle and held at a predetermined position located toward the front ofthe vehicle from the rear shoe 16. Removal of the check portion 22 bfrom the cutout 13 e switches the main body 26 (check block 21) to amovable state that allows movement toward the rear of the vehicle fromthe predetermined position. The position of the movable panel 12 in thefront and rear directions of the vehicle is restricted to apredetermined position when the check block is in the immovable state.The immovable state of the check block 21 is set, for example, when themovable panel 12 is in a fully closed state. An urging member (notshown) constantly urges the check lever 22 toward a direction in whichthe check portion 22 b is fitted into the cutout 13 e (pivoted incounterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2( a)).

An engagement groove 22 c, which faces away from the flange 13 d, isformed in the tetragonal head of the check 22 b. The engagement groove22 c is inclined to approach the flange 13 c toward the rear of thevehicle. When the check portion 22 b is fitted to the cutout 13 e, aninlet passage 31 is formed between the check lever 22 and the guide 26a. The inlet passage 31 extends toward the front and rear from oppositesides of the engagement groove 22 c. Further, the inlet passage 31 isset to have an opening width that is about the same as the engagementgroove 22 c and extends in the front and rear directions of the vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 2( a), a support shaft 23 a pivotally couples theengagement projection restriction lever 23 to the lower side of thecheck portion 22 b at position located toward the distal end (rear side)from the engagement groove 22 c of the check portion 22 b. Theengagement projection restriction lever 23 includes a hook-shapedabutment piece 23 b and a hook shaped restriction piece 23 c. Theabutment piece 23 b extends toward the rear of the vehicle from thesupport shaft 23 a and can abut the side wall 13 b of the flange 13 c.The restriction piece 23 c extends toward the front of the vehicle fromthe support shaft 23 a and can project into the inlet passage 31. Theengagement projection restriction lever 23 is set so that when the checkblock 21 is in the immovable state and the abutment piece 23 b isabutting the opposing side wall 13 b, the restriction piece 23 cprojects into the inlet passage 31 and shuts the inlet passage 31 in theforward and rearward directions of the vehicle. The pivot position ofthe engagement projection restriction lever 23 in this state is referredto as the “predetermined initial position”. Further, the engagementprojection restriction lever 23 is set so that by pivoting about thesupport shaft 23 a in the clockwise direction as viewed in the drawings,the restriction piece 23 c allows the inlet passage 31 to open as shownby the double-dashed lines.

An urging member (not shown) constantly urges the engagement projectionrestriction lever 23 toward a direction in which the abutment piece 23 babuts against the side wall 13 b (pivoted in counterclockwise directionas viewed in FIG. 2( a)). The urging force applied to the engagementprojection restriction lever 23 is set to be smaller than the urgingforce applied to the check lever 22 when fitting the check portion 22 binto the cutout 13 e. Accordingly, the urging force applied to theengagement projection restriction lever 23 does not separate the checkportion 22 b from the cutout 13 e.

As shown in FIG. 1, a generally plate-shaped coupling arm 41 ispivotally coupled by a support shaft 41 a to a front end portion of therear shoe 16. The coupling arm 41 extends toward the front of thevehicle to the check block (guide 26 a). A coil spring 42, which isarranged on the support shaft 41 a, constantly urges the front end ofthe coupling arm 41 to abut the upper surface of the guide 26 a on thecheck block 21 (pivoted in counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG.1).

As shown in FIG. 4( b), a generally cylindrical engagement portion 43,which opposes the inlet passage 31 and projects downward, is fixed to afront end portion of the coupling arm 41. As shown in FIG. 2( a), theengagement projection 43 moves toward the front of the vehicle along theinlet passage 31 as the rear shoe 16 and the coupling arm 41 move towardthe front of the vehicle. In this state, the engagement projection 43pushes the restriction piece 23 c thereby pivoting the engagementprojection restriction lever 23 in the counterclockwise direction asviewed in FIG. 4( a) against the urging force applied to the engagementprojection restriction lever 23 while passing by the engagement groove22 c. This returns the engagement projection restriction lever 23, whichis released from the engagement projection 43, to the predeterminedinitial position.

Further, in this state, when the rear shoe 16 and the coupling arm 41move toward the rear of the vehicle, the engagement projection 43 pushesthe restriction piece 23 c of the engagement projection restrictionlever 23, which is returned to the predetermined initial position. Here,the engagement projection restriction lever 23, which is pushed by theengagement projection 43 and pivoted in the counterclockwise directionas viewed in FIG. 4( a), pushes the opposing side wall 13 b with theabutment piece 23 b. This pivots the check portion 22 b (check lever 22)about the support shaft 23 a in the clockwise direction as viewed inFIG. 4( a), that is, in a direction in which the check portion 22 b isseparated from the cutout 13 e (refer to FIG. 5( a)).

As the rear shoe 16 and the coupling arm 41 further move toward the rearof the vehicle, the engagement projection 43, which further pushes therestriction piece 23 c, starts to enter the engagement groove 22 c alongthe restriction piece 23 c (refer to FIG. 5( b)). In this state, thecheck lever 22 is completely separated from the cutout 13 e and releasedfrom the cutout 13 e. Further, the check block 21 is switched to themovable state. Accordingly, in this state, when the rear shoe 16 and thecoupling arm 41 move further toward the rear of the vehicle, the checklever 22, which hooks to the engagement projection 43 in the engagementgroove 22 c, moves with the check block 21 toward the rear of thevehicle (engagement state).

As shown in FIG. 4( b), a generally cylindrical guide projection 44,which projects in a widthwise direction facing toward the first channel28, is fixed to the front end portion of the coupling arm 41. When thecoupling arm 41 abuts the upper surface of the guide 26 a of the checkblock 21, the guide projection 44 is inserted into the first channel 28and movable along the first channel 28 in the front and rear directionsof the vehicle. Accordingly, movement of the rear shoe 16 and thecoupling arm 41 in the front and rear directions of the vehicle does notaffect the engagement of the engagement projection 43 and the engagementprojection restriction lever 23.

Referring to FIG. 6, as the rear shoe 16 and the coupling arm 41 movetoward the front of the vehicle and the guide projection 44 moves overthe plate spring 30 and reaches the communication portion OP at thefront side of the first channel 28, the coupling arm 41 is pivoted inthe clockwise direction as viewed in the drawing in a state in which theguide projection 44, which is urged by the plate spring 30, enters thesecond channel 29 through the communication portion OP. In this state,the guide projection 44 abuts the upper surface of the guide piece 26 cand is movable in the front and rear directions of the vehicle along thesecond channel 29. Further, the engagement projection 43 is arranged ata position shifted in a heightwise direction of the vehicle by an amountcorresponding to the steps of the first and second channels 28 and 29.In this state, the engagement projection restriction lever 23 is set beseparates from the movement path of the engagement projection 43 towardthe rear of the vehicle. Accordingly, when the guide projection 44 is inthe second channel 29, the check block 21 and the like do not movetoward the rear of the vehicle even if the rear shoe 16 and the couplingarm 41 move toward the rear of the vehicle (disengaged state). When theguide projection 44 reaches the rear end of the second channel 29 (guidepiece 26 c), the guide projection 44 is released from the guide piece 26c. As a result, the coil spring 42 urges and pivots (return-pivots) thecoupling arm 41 in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in thedrawing until abutting the upper surface of the guide 26 a of the checkblock 21. The coupling arm 41, the coil spring 42, the engagementprojection 43, and the guide projection 44 form a check cancellationmechanism 40.

The guide pin 16 b of the rear shoe 16 is set to be arranged in thestraight portion 19 b when the guide projection 44 is moving in thefirst channel 28 or the second channel 29. Accordingly, the movablepanel 12 does not move when the check cancellation mechanism 40 switchesto the engaged state or the disengaged state. When the checkcancellation mechanism 40 is in the engaged state and the rear shoe 16and coupling arm 41 move integrally with the check block 21 and the liketoward the rear of the vehicle, the movable panel 12 moves toward therear of the vehicle in the tilt-up state and opens the roof opening 10a. When the check cancellation mechanism 40 is in the disengaged stateand the rear shoe 16 and coupling arm 41 move toward the rear of thevehicle leaving the check block 21 and the like, the guide pin 16 bmoves along the inclined portion 19 a to its rear end. As a result, thebracket 18 (movable panel 12) is shifted to the fully closed state(recovered) in a state in which its rear end is lowered about thesupport shaft 17 b.

As shown in FIG. 1, the sunroof device 11 includes a motor 51, whichserves as an electric drive source that drives and moves the rear shoe16, and a control unit 52, which drives and controls the motor 51 and isformed by, for example, a microcomputer. The sunroof device 11 furtherincludes a position sensor 53, which is connected to the control unit 52and serves as a position detector that detects the position of the rearshoe 16 in the front and rear directions of the vehicle (for example,the rotation amount of the motor 51). The control unit 52 drives andcontrols the motor 51 based on the position of the rear shoe 16 in thefront and rear directions of the vehicle detected by the position sensor53 to open and close the movable panel 12. In particular, the controlunit 52 prohibits deactivation of the motor 51 when the checkcancellation mechanism 40 moves from the engaged state to a range in thefront and rear directions of the vehicle for switching to the disengagedstate. This avoids a state in which the position of the rear shoe 16 inthe front and rear directions of the vehicle that is detected by theposition sensor 53 cannot be determined as whether being in the engagedstate or disengaged state of the check cancellation mechanism 40.

The operation of the present embodiment will now be summarized.

As shown in FIG. 1, when the movable panel 12 is in the fully closedstate and the check mechanism 20 is immovable, as the rear shoe 16 movestoward the front of the vehicle, the guide pin 16 b moves along theinclined portion 19 a to its front end. This lifts the bracket 18(movable panel 12) at the rear end about the support shaft 17 b to thetilt-up state. In this state, further movement of the rear shoe 16toward the front of the vehicle switches the check cancellationmechanism 40 to the engaged state as described above without moving themovable panel 12. Accordingly, in this state, when the rear shoe 16moves toward the rear of the vehicle, the check mechanism 20 switches tothe movable state and moves integrally toward the rear of the vehicle,and the movable panel 12 opens the roof opening 10 a in the tilt-upstate. Then, when the rear shoe 16 moves toward the front of thevehicle, the check mechanism 20, of which the engagement groove 22 c ispushed by the engagement projection 43, moves integrally toward thefront of the vehicle. This closes the roof opening 10 a with the movablepanel 12 in the tilt-up state. Further, the check mechanism 20 returnsto the immovable state (refer to FIG. 4).

In the state shown in FIG. 3, when the rear shoe 16 further moves towardthe front of the vehicle, as shown in FIG. 6, the check cancellationmechanism 40 is switched to the disengaged state as described abovewithout moving the movable panel 12. Accordingly, in this state, whenthe rear shoe 16 moves toward the rear of the vehicle and the guide pin16 b moves along the inclined portion 19 a to its rear end, the bracket18 (movable panel 12) is lowered at its rear end about the support shaft17 b and shifted to the fully closed state (recovered).

As described above in detail, the present embodiment has the advantagesdescribed below.

(1) In the present embodiment, in the engaged state of the checkcancellation mechanism 40, when the rear shoe 16 moves toward the rearof the vehicle, the check mechanism 20 is switched to the movable stateand moved integrally with the check cancellation mechanism 40 toward therear of the vehicle. Accordingly, the movable panel 12, which is hookedto the check mechanism 20, opens in the tilt-up state. In this state,the front shoe 17, which is coupled to the movable panel 12, also movesintegrally toward the rear of the vehicle. In this case, the maximummovement amount of the rear shoe 16 or the like that determines thefully open state of the movable panel 12 is not restricted by themovement amount of the rear shoe 16 in the reverse direction (toward thefront of the vehicle) when the movable panel 12 is shifted to thetilt-up state. It is only required that the movement amount be ensuredso that it does not move the movable panel 12, which allows switching ofthe check cancellation mechanism 40 to the engaged state or thedisengaged state. Thus, the maximum movement amount of the rear shoe 16or the like that determines the fully open state of the movable panel12, that is, the open amount of the movable panel 12, can be increasedaccordingly.

When the check cancellation mechanism 40 is in the engaged state,further movement of the rear shoe 16 toward the front of the vehicleswitches the check cancellation mechanism to the disengaged state.Accordingly, in this state, when the rear shoe 16 moves toward the rearof the vehicle, after the period in which the movable panel 12 does notmove, the rear side of the movable panel 12 linked to the rear shoe 16is lowered about the front side (hooking pin 18 a) of the movable panel12 hooked to the check mechanism 20 in the immovable state and therebyshifted to the fully closed state (recovered).

When the movable panel 12 is shifted from the fully closed state to thetilt-up state (or vice-versa), a sufficient movement amount is ensuredfor the rear shoe 16. This decreases the load per unit movement amounton the rear shoe 16 and consequently avoids enlargement of the motor 51.

(2) In the present embodiment, the switching of the check cancellationmechanism 40 from the engaged state to the disengaged state may beperformed with an extremely simple function that causes the guideprojection 44 to move into (enter) the second channel 29 from the firstchannel 28. Further, by aiding the movement of the guide projection 44from the first channel 28 to the second channel 29 with the plate spring30, the switching of the check cancellation mechanism 40 from theengaged state to the disengaged sate is further ensured.

(3) In the present embodiment, when the check mechanism 20 is in theimmovable state, the rear shoe 16 moves toward the front of the vehicleand the engagement projection 43 passes by the engagement groove 22 c.Then, movement of the rear shoe 16 toward the rear of the vehicleresults in the engagement projection 43 being fitted to the engagementgroove 22 c and pushing the engagement groove 22 c. This switches thecheck mechanism 20 from the immovable state to the movable state andintegrally moves the check cancellation mechanism 40 toward the rear ofthe vehicle. In this manner, when the check mechanism 20 movesintegrally with the check cancellation mechanism 40 toward the rear ofthe vehicle, the engagement projection 43 fitted to the engagementgroove 22 c integrally moves the check mechanism 20 and the checkcancellation mechanism 40 toward the rear of the vehicle in a furtherstable state.

(4) In the present embodiment, the check mechanism 20 implements thefunction for hooking the movable panel 12 (i.e., restricting theposition of the movable panel 12 in the front and rear directions of thevehicle) and the function for switching between the immovable state andthe movable state using two components (check block 21 and check lever22). This further ensures the operation of each function.

(5) In the present embodiment, the engagement projection 43 passes bythe engagement groove 22 c, and the rear shoe 16 then moves toward therear of the vehicle. This pushes the guide rail 13, which is engagedwith the engagement projection restriction lever 23, with the engagementprojection restriction lever 23 and releases the engagement projectionrestriction lever 23 from the cutout 13 e. In this manner, the pressingforce of the engagement projection 43 from the engagement projectionrestriction lever 23 is relayed to the guide rail 13. This furtherensures switching from the immovable state to the movable state.Further, for example, in comparison with when released from the cutout13 e with only the component force produced when the rear shoe 16 movestoward the rear of the vehicle and the engagement projection 43 therebypushes the engagement groove (22 c), a steep inclination angle can beset for the engagement groove relative to the front and rear directionsof the vehicle. This allows the check lever 22 (check mechanism 20) tobe shortened accordingly in the front and rear directions of thevehicle.

(6) In the present embodiment, when the rear shoe 16 moves in a range inthe front and rear directions of the vehicle in which the checkcancellation mechanism 40 switches from the engaged state to thedisengaged state without moving the movable panel 12, the control unit52 prohibits deactivation of the motor 51. Accordingly, the rear shoe 16stops in the range in the front and rear directions of the vehicle fromthe rear shoe 16 shared by the engaged state and the disengaged state ofthe check cancellation mechanism 40, and avoids a situation in which itcannot be determined whether the check cancellation mechanism 40 is inthe engaged state or disengaged state.

(7) In the present embodiment, the load per unit movement amount on therear shoe 16, that is, the load on the motor 51, is decreased. Thisstabilizes the operation of the motor 51 and suppresses swinging.Entrapment control based on, for example, the behavior of the motor 51,is further facilitated.

(8) In the present embodiment, the guide projection 44, which enters thefirst channel 28 as the rear shoe 16 moves toward the front of thevehicle, cannot move out of the first channel 28 due to the engagementof the engagement projection 43 with the check lever 22 and the likeeven when the rear shoe 16 moves toward the rear of the vehicle. Theguide projection 44 can move out of the first channel 28 when the rearshoe 16 moves further toward the front of the vehicle. Thus, theswitching of the check cancellation mechanism 40 to the engaged state orthe disengaged state is performed in a single direction therebyrestricting the movement of the rear shoe 16 toward the front of thevehicle. This improves the reliability of the switching operation.Further, the switching of the check cancellation mechanism 40 to theengaged state or the disengaged state is arranged in a range in whichthe guide pin 16 b of the rear shoe 16 moves along the straight portion19 b of the guide groove 19 and the movable panel 12 does not move. Thisminimizes the load on the motor 51 that performs the switching.

(9) In the present embodiment, the components related to operationswitching are concentrated at the front side of the movable panel 12.This simplifies the cross-sectional shape and machining process of theguide rail 13.

The above embodiment may be modified as described below.

In the above embodiment, the front shoe 17 may be eliminated. In thiscase, it is preferable that the front side of the movable panel 12(bracket 18) be pivotal about the hooking pin 18 a at the hookingprojection 27 of the check mechanism 20 (check block 21). Such amodification reduces the number of components.

In the above embodiment, the switching of the check cancellationmechanism 40 from the engaged state to the disengaged state is performedby offsetting the check cancellation mechanism 40 (guide projection 44)in the heightwise direction of the vehicle relative to the checkmechanism (engagement projection restriction lever 23). However, forexample, a check cancellation mechanism may be offset in the widthwisedirection of the vehicle relative to a check mechanism. Alternatively,the switching of the check cancellation mechanism from the engaged stateto the disengaged state may be performed by offsetting a check mechanismin the heightwise direction of the vehicle or the widthwise direction ofthe vehicle relative to the check cancellation mechanism.

In the above embodiment, after the tilt-up state ends, as the rear shoe16 moves toward the front of the vehicle, the engagement projection 43pushes the engagement projection restriction lever 23 to pass theengagement groove 22 c and switch the check cancellation mechanism 40 tothe engaged state. However, one of an engagement projection and a checklever may offset the other one in the heightwise direction of thevehicle or the widthwise direction of the vehicle to pass the engagementgroove and switch the check cancellation mechanism to an engaged state.

In the above embodiment, the linking of the rear shoe 16 and the bracket18 is just one example. For example, the rear shoe 16 (support piece 16a) may include a guide groove facing a direction opposite to the guidegroove 19, and a guide pin fitted in a movable manner to the guidegroove may be fixed to the rear side of the bracket 18.

1. A vehicle sunroof device comprising: a movable panel that opens andcloses an opening formed in a roof of a vehicle; a guide rail arrangedon two edges of the opening in a widthwise direction of the vehicle,wherein the guide rail extends in front and rear directions of thevehicle; a rear slide member linked to two edges at a rear portion ofthe movable panel in the widthwise direction and arranged to be movablealong the guide rail in the front and rear directions of the vehicle; anelectric drive source that moves the rear slide member; a checkmechanism hooked to two edges at a front portion of the movable panel ina swingable manner, wherein the check mechanism is selectively switchedbetween an immovable state, in which the check mechanism is held at apredetermined position frontward from the rear slide member in the frontand rear directions of the vehicle, and a movable state, in which thecheck mechanism is allowed to move toward the rear of the vehicle fromthe predetermined position, and wherein when the movable panel is in afully closed state, the rear slide member moves along the guide railtoward the front of the vehicle to lift the movable panel at its rearside about the front portion hooked to the check mechanism in theimmovable state and thereby shift the movable panel to a tilt-up state;and a check cancellation mechanism arranged on the rear slide member,wherein the check cancellation mechanism, in the tilt-up state, isswitched to an engaged state as the slide member further moves towardthe front of the vehicle without moving the movable panel, and the checkcancellation mechanism, in the engaged state, integrally moves the checkmechanism as subsequent movement of the rear slide member toward therear of the vehicle switches the check mechanism to the movable state,and as the rear slide member further moves toward the front of thevehicle without moving the movable panel in the engaged state, the checkcancellation mechanism is switched to a disengaged state and releasedfrom the check mechanism.
 2. The sunroof device according to claim 1,wherein the check cancellation mechanism includes a projection, and thesunroof device further comprises: a first channel that allows entranceof the guide projection in the immovable state of the check mechanismwhen the check cancellation mechanism switches to the engaged state asthe rear slide member moves toward the front of the vehicle; a secondchannel in communication with a front end of the first channel, whereinthe second channel switches the check cancellation mechanism to thedisengaged state when the guide projection enters; and an urging memberthat urges and moves the guide projection from the first channel to thesecond channel in a communication portion of the first channel and thesecond channel.
 3. The vehicle sunroof device according to claim 2,wherein the check mechanism includes the first channel, the secondchannel, and the urging member.
 4. The vehicle sunroof device accordingto claim 1, wherein the check mechanism includes an engagement groove,and the check cancellation mechanism includes an engagement projection,wherein the engagement projection passes the engagement groove of thecheck mechanism in the immovable state as the rear slide member movestoward the front of the vehicle, and the engagement projection is fittedto the engagement groove by subsequent movement of the rear slide membertoward the rear of the vehicle and presses the engagement groove tointegrally move the check mechanism.
 5. The sunroof device according toclaim 4, wherein the check mechanism includes: a check block hooked tothe movable panel and arranged to be movable along the guide rail in thefront and rear directions of the vehicle; and a check lever includingthe engagement groove and pivotally coupled to the check block, whereinthe check lever is urged toward and hooked to a hooking portion formedin the guide rail at the predetermined position to maintain theimmovable state.
 6. The sunroof device according to claim 5, wherein thecheck mechanism includes an engagement projection restriction lever,wherein the engagement projection restriction lever is pivotally coupledto the check lever, and the engagement projection restriction lever isheld at a predetermined initial position engaging the guide rail whenreceiving urging force; and the engagement projection pivots theengagement projection restriction lever against the urging force andpasses the engagement groove as the rear slide member moves toward thefront of the vehicle, and subsequent movement of the rear slide membertoward the rear of the vehicle pushes, with the engagement projectionrestriction lever, the guide rail, which is engaged with the engagementprojection restriction lever, and releases the check lever from thehooking portion.
 7. The sunroof device according to claim 1, comprising:a position detector that detects the position of the rear slide memberin the front and rear directions of the vehicle; and a control unit thatcontrols and drives the electric drive source based on the position ofthe rear slide member in the front and rear directions of the vehicle,wherein the control unit prohibits deactivation of the electric drivesource when the check cancellation mechanism is in a range switched fromthe engaged state to the disengaged state and the rear slide membermoves in a range in the front and rear directions of the vehicle withoutmoving the movable panel.